The 63 Nayanmars are the most important of Siva worshippers.

Their history has been outlined beautifully with a lot of emotion, and generously interspersed with narrations of touching incidents, keeping their devotion to Siva as the basis. Detailed stories of how Lord Siva tested each of the 63 Nayanmars and finally accepted them are contained in these songs on the 63 Nayanmars.

These stories have been published by Sekkizhaar,a mininister of the King Anabhaya Chola. The work is called THIRUTHONDA PURANAM as well as PERIYA PURANAM.

Sekkizhar prayed to Lord Siva for inspiration to write the first line of Thiruthonda Puranam. Lord Siva duly obliged by sounding the word ULAGAMELLAAM from the skies.

Most of the epics in our land were originally written in Sanskrit. But Periya Puranam is an original literary work in Tamil. It is hailed as the fifth Veda and has been translated into many other languages.

Periya Puranam stands as the twelfth of the Twelve Saiva Thirumurai.

Anabhaya Chola honoured Sekkizhaar by crowning him with the title THONDARSEER PARAVUVAR.

I respectfully thank Sri N Mahalingam, Head of the Sakthi Group of Industries and Ramalingar Service Society for coming forward to write the foreword.

I pray that all of you sing these songs with devotion and invoke the blessings of Lord Siva.